Fifa confirm 12 stadiums for new-look Club World Cup including TWO £1.2BILLION NFL grounds and 88,500-seat Olympic venue

FIFA have confirmed the 12 stadiums that will host games for the new-look Club World Cup set to begin this season.

The tournament, scheduled to begin on June 15, will take place in the USA and has already sparked controversy over its format.

The US, who will also be hosting the World Cup proper in 2026 alongside Mexico and Canada, will offer up 12 incredible stadiums for the tournament.

Some 32 teams will compete in 63 matches across the 12 arenas to earn the title of Club World Cup champions.

The chosen grounds range from capacities of 20,000 to a whopping 88,500.

The matches will stretch from coast to coast with games played in iconic US cities like Los Angeles, Nashville and Washington D.C.

The smallest stadium set to be used is Audi Field in Washington D.C.

Home of MLS side DC United, the 20,000 seater stadium is one of few purpose built football grounds in the lineup.

Just three other MLS-only grounds are being used for the tournament, TQL Stadium in Cincinnati; Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee; Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando.

While six NFL stadiums will be commandeered by the footballing world this summer – including TWO £1.2BILLION super stadiums.

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Both the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, and the MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Jets and New York Giants, will host matches for the controversial tournament.

The largest stadium announced as a host ground is the iconic Rose Bowl in California.

The former Olympic stadium will boast a capacity of 88,500 for the upcoming tournament and has held a record 106,869 fans in the past.

The incredible colosseum-like arena is recognised as a National Historic Landmark in the US and is best known for its use as a venue for college level American football in the States.

Fifa announced the 12-strong list on Saturday in New York City as they continue to hype up their new-look tournament.

Despite a new model that will see 32 teams from six continental confederations face off against each other, there has been huge backlash against the fast-approaching tournament.

Players have expressed their concerns over hectic calendars leaving them with no time for recovery this summer.

While Fifpro, the players’ international federation, claimed that the scheduling “will undercut the rest and recovery time of these players at the end of the 2024-25 season”.

Adding that they believe that Fifa’s new plan “demonstrates a lack of consideration for the mental and physical health of participating players, as well as a disregard for their personal and family lives.”

The Premier League has also threatened a boycott of the competition with PFA boss Maheta Molango telling SunSport: “Football is killing its own product.

“Those who run the game need to listen. If they don’t, then as unions we have a responsibility to the players to take action — and the legal route is the next step.”

At the moment Chelsea and Manchester City are the only two Premier League clubs set to participate in the competition next year.

Despite the tournament being just around the corner, Fifa are yet to announce any broadcast agreements for the Club World Cup.

Football’s governing body claim that this summer’s tournament will “crown the ultimate global champion”.

While some clubs have been disappointed to be left out of contention with the tournament understood to be offering up some £600m in prize money.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk